nBlade 98 Opinions

Did a search here at TT bud didn't find a whole lot of opinions on this racquet. Curious what your thoughts are on this racquet. I picked one up for $12.50 recently, used of course. I play with a Head Youtek Prestige MP normally but before that was a long time Wilson player as you can see from my screen name. Saw the nBlade 98 for a decent price so bought it. Did not play with it yet. Will tomorrow.

Curious your thoughts on this racquet. Thanks.

WilsonPlayer101 said:

Did a search here at TT bud didn't find a whole lot of opinions on this racquet. Curious what your thoughts are on this racquet. I picked one up for $12.50 recently, used of course. I play with a Head Youtek Prestige MP normally but before that was a long time Wilson player as you can see from my screen name. Saw the nBlade 98 for a decent price so bought it. Did not play with it yet. Will tomorrow.

Curious your thoughts on this racquet. Thanks.

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Awesome racquet. Reasonably soft,not real heavy but good swing weight. Tight pattern but still produces enough spin AND you can flatten the ball and put it away. I have 2 that I am looking to replace (only because of age and use). Also, it has that nice square box type frame feel. Not a lot of these type racquets around anymore.

My opinion is that this frame is old

Yourtenniscoach said:

My opinion is that this frame is old

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I did research, yes these were from about 2006 or so.

gregor.b said:

Awesome racquet. Reasonably soft,not real heavy but good swing weight. Tight pattern but still produces enough spin AND you can flatten the ball and put it away. I have 2 that I am looking to replace (only because of age and use). Also, it has that nice square box type frame feel. Not a lot of these type racquets around anymore.

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When I saw it for cheap at the Salvation Army I thought maybe it was a big box store racquet, you know Costco or Walmart so I went home and found it is a pro line like level racquet, you know, not a cheapo in it's hey day so I went back and bought it.

Some reason the original owner had no grip on it, just two overgrips. I have to put on a grip.

Normally at the Salvation Army I only see junk racquets, first time I saw a good one. They had some other good racquet too. Some Blade, another Blade but forgot which.

nBlade 98 is a nice racquet. Very comfortable and stable. You need to provide your own power, no room for shoddy technique IMHO.

forthegame said:

nBlade 98 is a nice racquet. Very comfortable and stable. You need to provide your own power, no room for shoddy technique IMHO.

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I figured it was inexpensive enough for me to buy and test and if it was not really good for my game I could give it to a friend or sell it since it was so low in price.

WilsonPlayer101 said:

I figured it was inexpensive enough for me to buy and test and if it was not really good for my game I could give it to a friend or sell it since it was so low in price.

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I think they're valued relatively highly. Rare too it seems.

WilsonPlayer101 said:

When I saw it for cheap at the Salvation Army I thought maybe it was a big box store racquet, you know Costco or Walmart so I went home and found it is a pro line like level racquet, you know, not a cheapo in it's hey day so I went back and bought it.

Some reason the original owner had no grip on it, just two overgrips. I have to put on a grip.

Normally at the Salvation Army I only see junk racquets, first time I saw a good one. They had some other good racquet too. Some Blade, another Blade but forgot which.

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I know a joker who used to play with it:



And a cutie pie:

I'm a devotee to more hefty racquets, but I tried one of these some years back and thought that Wilson really got it right. They made it not too head-light for its moderate weight so that there was still enough stability in the head, but the "flex profile" in this racquet was rather unique.

The design has most of its flex in the throat, while the hoop is rather firm. That gives it rather crisp feel along with the more tempered response and control of a softer frame. A great combo in my opinion (though opinions vary).

The only other frames I can think of in recent history with a similar flex profile are the Yonex RQiS 1 Tour (Ana switched to that one for a stretch after leaving Wilson) and some of the racquets from Fischer which has become Pacific. Back in the Fischer days a few years ago, their M-Speed Pro #1 98 was one of the best received frames at TW and I used them for a little while myself. Pretty sure that the current Pacific version of that frame is their X Force Pro.

Those nBlade 98's have become rather rare and I'm still sort of surprised that Wilson didn't produce them for a little longer than they did. There's been more than one user who has asked for help around here with finding a current alternative. Hopefully you have a good go with it - I'd bet that given the measure of flex in that racquet, it might be a little dead if you string it too tightly, especially with one of the poly options. The one I tried was set up with a snug bed of multifiber and it was still a little on the mellow side.

Thanks everyone for your help with my question about this racquet. I tried it yesterday at the gym in the racquet ball courts and really liked it but I knew the real test would be on the tennis court playing a set.

So I just played and man I loved it. It really felt right and played well. I beat my opponent. Then again I could beat him or loose to him depending on how good I am that day and how good he is but I will say I think my serves and strokes were really good today with this racquet. I am so glad that I bought this one.

Maybe I am wrong but I loved my Adidas Ivan Lendl racquet I got in 1984 when I was a junior in high school and this racquet feels like it when I hit. I have not used the Lendl in ages because I am no longer used to the smaller head but I always loved the way it felt when I played and was hoping to find something like this and I think this one is similar in the way it feels when I play. I wonder if the throat of the Adidas Lendl is flexible with a firm hoop like this one. fuzz nation I am glad you were able to explain the dynamics of this racquet, you know the flex throat and firm head part. This explains why I feel so good hitting with this.

The person who donated it to the Salvation Army did not have a grip on it, just an overgrip. I took that off to discover this fact. I replaced overgrip that was on it with Tourna Grip but I need to put on a real grip. I'll get some Wilson Cushion Grip.

As you see from my screen name I am WilsonPlayer but over the past almost two years I switched to Head but I love this one so much I am back to Wilson for sure so my name fits my game and my game fits my name.

I am a fan of both Anna and the Joker so I am glad to see they played with these at one time. Subz, thanks for pointing this out. I knew Joker was but didn't know Anna the beauty used one. Makes me even happier I have one now.

forthegame, I am fortunate to have found this racquet because you pointed out these are rare. I hope I am fortunate enough to find another one but if not I hope this one last a long time and when it's done with I hope I can find another racquet that is similar such as fuzz nation mentions.

Thank you everyone!

I guess it's not only specs that would make a racquet similar to the nBlade but if the throat is flexy and the hit is firm but you were mentioning fuzz nation that the Pacific X Force pro might be similar to the nBlade. What about this one, the Pacific X Force, the non-Pro version because these specs might be close to that of the nBlade and if the throat is flexy and the head is firm then maybe this would be the one that would be close to it?

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Pacific_X_Force/descpageRCPACIFIC-PXF.html#spec

Thanks

^^^^ I wrote to TW staff about the racquets that are closer to nBlade and the two mentioned are: new Rebel 98 and the Pure Storm Gt. I asked about it on the Rebel 98 video review on youtube. I think the stiffness profile is different but Rebel and Pure Storm play similar.

Try this one. It is a little closer and even though the swing weight and weight are down a little, it looks like the feel would be pretty close. It is one I am considering to replace my blades ( with a little lead of course).


http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Pacific_X_Force/descpageRCPACIFIC-PXF.html#spec

subz said:

^^^^ I wrote to TW staff about the racquets that are closer to nBlade and they two mentioned are: new Rebel 98 and the Pure Storm Gt.

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Thanks, I checked the Rebel and the specs are very close to the nBlade. I gotta demo that one and the Pure Storm GT. Thanks.

gregor.b said:

Try this one. It is a little closer and even though the swing weight and weight are down a little, it looks like the feel would be pretty close. It is one I am considering to replace my blades ( with a little lead of course).


http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Pacific_X_Force/descpageRCPACIFIC-PXF.html#spec

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True, the specs are pretty close except swing weight but the lead you talk about might raise that I think. I read the reviews and one person mentioned that the throat is flexible and the head firm which sounds like the nBlade so combined with the specs this could be the one. Thanks.

I really liked my nBlade when it was my racquet of choice. Great control and touch, also very low power, but not too little power. I ultimately left it in search of a racquet with more stability, plow through, and a tad more stiffness.

Meriko said:

I really liked my nBlade when it was my racquet of choice. Great control and touch, also very low power, but not too little power. I ultimately left it in search of a racquet with more stability, plow through, and a tad more stiffness.

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What did you move on to?

I am in the so-called "honeymoon" period with this nBlade now. I put the Youtek Prestige MP away for now. I love the feel of impact when I hit the ball solid right in the sweet spot. Such a good feel. I will probably alternate between the Head Y Prestige MP but for now I am getting to get used to this racquet.

The wilson nblade was my racket of choice during almost 2-3 years. Is an awersome racket that allows you to place the ball with an incredible amount of spin and weight wherever you want.

Finally drop looking for more power and easy winners because of the age, but I still can pick up one of my old nblades and play great tennis.

WilsonPlayer101 said:

I guess it's not only specs that would make a racquet similar to the nBlade but if the throat is flexy and the hit is firm but you were mentioning fuzz nation that the Pacific X Force pro might be similar to the nBlade. What about this one, the Pacific X Force, the non-Pro version because these specs might be close to that of the nBlade and if the throat is flexy and the head is firm then maybe this would be the one that would be close to it?

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Pacific_X_Force/descpageRCPACIFIC-PXF.html#spec

Thanks

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That non-pro Pacific X Force could be a terrific option, but I'd bet that you'd want to have a little lead tape handy just in case. It's a soft racquet (flex rating of 58), but it's also only 11 oz. That might leave that frame somewhat lifeless and unstable without a little extra heft in the hoop. If so, it might also handle a little better with some counter-balancing to keep it more head-light. Who knows? It might be great for you in its stock layout.

WilsonPlayer101 said:

What did you move on to?

I am in the so-called "honeymoon" period with this nBlade now. I put the Youtek Prestige MP away for now. I love the feel of impact when I hit the ball solid right in the sweet spot. Such a good feel. I will probably alternate between the Head Y Prestige MP but for now I am getting to get used to this racquet.

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I find it funny your other racquet is the Youtek Prestige MP, because that's the very racquet I switched to. When I started being displeased with the nBlade, I took out some demos, and the Prestige just clicked.

Meriko said:

I find it funny your other racquet is the Youtek Prestige MP, because that's the very racquet I switched to. When I started being displeased with the nBlade, I took out some demos, and the Prestige just clicked.

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Meriko, you know what is funny about what you say? I actually added some lead tape to my Prestige before I bought the nBlade. I was displeased a little with the Prestige and thought that lead would help. I bought the nBlade and was loving it and did not try out the Prestige with lead. Today I decided to try the Prestige with lead and then the nBlade and the Prestige blew away the nBlade. I still like the nBlade but the Prestige with the lead tape is better for my game.

I added 4 grams to the head of the Prestige. Even though only 4 grams, so insignificant weight on paper so to speak, it feels a lot heavier and I get more mass and plow through and even more control and spin.

So I like the nBlade still but the Prestige will be my racquet of choice still. Then again I will try the nBlade again next time I play because I didn't give it much of a chance after hitting with the Prestige.